Your Festival Reads 

 
Hand-picked by Nottingham City Libraries 
 

If you are after reading inspiration to spark your curiosity check out these specially 
selected books, there’s something for everyone.   
 

“The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for 
existing.” Albert Einstein 
 
If you’re not already a member of Nottingham City Libraries it’s free to join and it only 
takes 5 minutes to sign up online: w
​ ww.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/joinalibrary 
 

You can search, reserve and renew books on our online catalogue head to 
www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/onlinecatalogue 
 
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Baby Books b
​ ecause it’s never too early to learn and be curious! 
 

Baby Robot explains…. Rocket Science by Dawn Sirett, illustrated by 

Victoria Palastanga (Dorling Kindersley) 

Baby Robot wants to fly to the moon so their friend Rose-bot tells them 
about rocket science. A fun book introducing science vocabulary and 
big ideas. 
 
 
100 first things to know by Dawn Sirett (DK Children) 

Stimulate your baby or toddler’s natural curiosity introducing vocabulary 

about the world around them in this colourful board book. 

 
 
 

My first science book by Matthew Oldham, illustrated by Tony Neal 

(Usborne) 
A great book to introduce little ones to the wonders of science with 
simple, colourful illustrations. ​
Discover how a seed grows, why things 
float, what makes materials change and much more. 
 

Zoology for Babies by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Thomas Elliott. 

(Caterpillar Books) 

Babies will love learning all about animals, their homes and habitats in 
this Baby 101 Science book. 
 
 

Children’s Picture Books t​ o inspire future inventors, thinkers and dreamers 

 

Look Up! – Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola (Puffin) 

Science-mad Rocket is going to be the greatest Astronaut that has ever 
lived but her first challenge is how to get her brother to stop looking down 
at his phone and look up to the stars instead! Winner of the Waterstones 
Children’s Book Prize 2020 this inspiring picture book will enthuse those 
who read it about space and the wonder of the natural world. 
 

 
Here we are: Notes for living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers 
So you’re just learning about the world but what’s it all about? Bestselling 
author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers seeks to answer lots of questions about 
what makes the planet Earth like it is and how do we go about living on it, 
in his own unique style. 
 
 

Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention – Pip Jones & Sarah Ogilvie 
(Simon & Schuster) 

Izzy Gizmo is a determined inventor and is pleased to receive an invite to 

the Genius Convention but the pressure is on to create a winning invention, 
what will she come up with? While all the rest are making shiny new things 
Izzy has a rather different idea. A fabulous story from Pip Jones with an 
ecological theme and amazing illustrations from the bestselling Sarah 
Ogilvie (The Detective Dog). 

How the Borks Became – Jonathan Emmett & Elys Dolan (Otter Barry 
Books) 

The Borks are creatures with shaggy yellow fur and long thin necks that live 
on a planet like Earth but they used to have short blue fur and almost no 
neck at all. How did this happen? Told with humorous rhymes from local 
author Jonathan Emmett and fantastic illustrations from Elys Dolan this 
book will explain the concept of evolution in a very simple way to young 
children. 
Adult Non-fiction ​to inform, inspire and entertain 
 
Humble Pi: A comedy of Maths errors by Matt Parker. 

Maths is really useful when it is correct but what happens when Maths 
goes wrong? Join the author as he recounts tales of mathematical 
mistakes with sometimes funny, and sometimes disastrous consequences. 
A very funny and entertaining book with some useful information thrown in! 
 

 
 
Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson 

Every year Neil deGrasse Tyson, one of the most influential scientists, 
receives thousands of letters from people seeking understanding, meaning 
and truth. In this selection of letters read his funny and wise replies and get 
an insight into his passions, doubts and hopes for the universe.  
 

 
 
 
The Body: A guide for occupants by Bill Bryson 

With his trademark curiosity and humour, Bill will guide you through the 
physical and neurological wonder that is the human body and have you 
marvelling in your existence! Telling extraordinary stories about the 
human body and some sound advice for how we can look after it. 

 
 
 
 

Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty 

Dara is a young star of the conservation movement and in these 
remarkable diary entries he talks about his intense connection to the 
natural world as a non-neurotypical teenager, balancing school and 
teenage life with his work as an environmental activist. Winner of the 2020 
Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing, this is a poetic and extraordinary 
memoir showing the powerful and deep connection we can have with 
nature and the importance of protecting our planet. 

 
 
Download and enjoy a range of magazines and newspapers or read online with no 
limit on the number of titles or the length of time you keep them.​ All for FREE if you 
are a Nottingham City Libraries member including popular titles such as: New 
Scientist, National Geographic, Sky at Night, BBC Wildlife, BBC Science Focus and 
How It Works.   
 
Get started with E-magazines at ​www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/e-books 
 
As well as being able to borrow physical books we also have E-books and 
E-audiobooks if you can’t get into a library.